Microbiological effects of consuming a synbiotic containing Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and oligofructose in elderly persons, determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and counting of viable bacteria.
- 2005-01-01
- Clinical Infectious Diseases 40(1)
- S. Bartosch
- E. Woodmansey
- J. C. Paterson
- M. Mcmurdo
- G. Macfarlane
- PubMed: 15614689
- DOI: 10.1086/426027
Abstract
Background: Because of changes in gut physiology, immune system reactivity, and diet, elderly people are more susceptible to gastrointestinal infections than are younger adults. The gut microflora, which provides a natural defense against invading microorganisms, changes in elderly people with the development of potentially damaging bacterial populations, which may lead to alterations in bacterial metabolism and higher levels of infection.
Methods: A randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding trial was done with 18 healthy elderly volunteers (age, >62 years) using a synbiotic comprising Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-02 and Bifidobacterium lactis BL-01 (probiotics) together with an inulin-based prebiotic (Synergy 1; Orafti). Real-time PCR was employed to quantitate total bifidobacteria, B. bifidum, and B. lactis in fecal DNA before, during, and after synbiotic consumption. Counting all viable anaerobes, bifidobacteria, and lactobacilli and identification of bacterial isolates to species level was also done.
Results: Throughout feeding, both bifidobacteria species were detected in fecal samples obtained from all subjects receiving the synbiotic, with significant increases in the number of copies of the 16S rRNA genes of B. bifidum, B. lactis, and total bifidobacteria, compared with the control week and the placebo group. At least 1 of these species remained detectable in fecal samples 3 weeks after feeding in individuals that had no fecal B. bifidum and/or B. lactis in the control week, indicating that the probiotics persisted in the volunteers. Counting of viable organisms showed significantly higher total numbers of fecal bifidobacteria, total numbers of lactobacilli, and numbers of B. bifidum during synbiotic feeding.
Conclusion: Synbiotic consumption increased the size and diversity of protective fecal bifidobacterial populations, which are often very much reduced in older people.
Research Insights
| Supplement | Health Outcome | Effect Type | Effect Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bifidobacterium | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium animalis | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium animalis | Increased Fecal Lactobacilli | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium animalis | Increased Persistence of Probiotics in Fecal Matter | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum | Increased Persistence of Beneficial Bacterial Species | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb-02 | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb-02 | Increased Persistence of Bifidobacteria | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 | Enhanced Bifidobacterial Diversity | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 | Improved Gut Microbial Persistence | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 | Increased Lactobacilli Levels | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum SD-5857 | Increased Diversity of Fecal Bifidobacterial Populations | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum SD-5857 | Increased Fecal Bifidobacterial Count | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum SD-5857 | Increased Persistence of Bifidobacteria | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum VPro 51 | Improved Gut Microbial Persistence | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum VPro 51 | Increased Bifidobacteria Levels | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum VPro 51 | Increased Fecal Lactobacilli | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum/lactis Bb-02 | Improved Gut Microbial Persistence | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum/lactis Bb-02 | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum/lactis Bb-02 | Increased Lactobacilli Populations | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis | Increased Persistence of Probiotics in Fecal Matter | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis B420 | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-02 | Increased Protective Fecal Bifidobacteria | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-02 | Sustained Bifidobacteria Populations | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BLA80 | Enhanced Diversity of Protective Bifidobacterial Populations | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BLA80 | Increased Fecal Bifidobacteria Levels | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BLA80 | Increased Fecal Lactobacilli | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BLA80 | Increased Persistence of Probiotics in Fecal Matter | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BLC-1 | Increased Bifidobacteria Levels | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BLC-1 | Increased Bifidobacterium bifidum Levels | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BLC-1 | Increased Persistence of Probiotics in Fecal Matter | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BLC-1 | Increased Protective Fecal Bifidobacteria | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BS01 | Improved Gut Microbial Persistence | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis BS01 | Increased Bifidobacteria Levels | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis DSM 15954 | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis DSM 15954 | Increased Fecal Lactobacilli Levels | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis DSM 15954 | Sustained Probiotic Colonization | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis HDS Bb-02 | Improved Gut Microbial Persistence | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis HDS Bb-02 | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 | Improved Bifidobacteria Levels | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 | Increased Bifidobacterium Persistence Duration | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 | Increased Lactobacillus Count | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis ISS Bif | Improved Gut Microbiota Diversity | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis ISS Bif | Increased Fecal Bifidobacteria Levels | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis ISS Bif | Increased Persistence of Probiotics in Fecal Matter | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis R101-8 | Increased Fecal Bifidobacteria Levels | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis R101-8 | Increased Fecal Lactobacilli | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis R101-8 | Increased Microbial Diversity | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium lactis/longum | Increased Bifidobacterial Populations in Feces | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis/longum | Increased Diversity of Fecal Bifidobacterial Populations | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis/longum | Increased Fecal Bifidobacteria Levels | Beneficial | Large |
| Bifidobacterium lactis/longum | Increased Persistence of Probiotics in Fecal Matter | Beneficial | Moderate |